Community Magazine April 2012

Departments 10 Letters 44 The Savant Says... 46 From The Files of The Bet Din Remember Irene, Rabbi Max Sutton 47 You Be the Judge 48 Top 10 Questions & Answers Hol Hamo'ed, Rabbi Daniel Levy 56 SY Varsity 66 Insights Into Education Benefits of Friendship, Rifka Schonfeld 68 Mitzvah Man Adventures 70 Kashrut and Health Alerts 72 2012 JSOR Sephardic Passover Food List 78 Fashion The Amazing Lace, Jennifer esses 80 The Shaatrah Files Getting the kids out of mommy's bed, Rachel Dayan 82 Recipes Passover Treats, Rachel Dayan 84 Ask Sito 86 Sage Advice 88 Mabrouk 90 To Your Health 92 Dental Health Iodine, Dr. Jacques Doueck 94 Community Chest 102 The Lighter Side 104 Riddles & Trivia 106 Life in the Big City 110 Classifieds & Real Estate Community Magazine is published monthly by Bnei Aram Soba, 1616 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11223. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY, USPS Number 0021-802 (ISSN 1552-809X). Copyright2012byBneiAramSoba.Domesticsubscriptions$18or$3when included inmembershipdues. Internationalsubscriptions$120.POSTMASTER:SendaddresschangestoCommunityMagazine, 1616 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11223. Advertising and sponsorship proceeds are used exclusively for charitable purposes. Advertisements do not necessarily carry the endorsement of the Publisher. Readers should always verify kashrut status independently. Ads for Internet and related services are intended for those who have received a heter from their rabbi for use of such services. Printed in Canada. THIS PUBLICATION CONTAINS MESSAGES OF TORAH AND HALACHOT. PLEASE HANDLE IT APPROPRIATELY. Nisan 5772 April 2012 Volume XI Number 7 (718) 645-4460 Features 12 Verbal Potential RABBI ELI J. MANSOUR We all remember the fairytale of Pinocchio and his nose, which grew longer with each lie he told. But long before this Disney animation, the appearance of physiological symptoms as a result of improper speech was a real phenomenon. 22 A Talmudic Perspective on “Obamacare” JASON ESSES M.D. Long before Medicaid and the universal healthcare catchphrase, the Talmud explored the concept of how limited communal resources should be allocated to the public – the issue at the very heart of the debate over Obamacare. 28 Courageous Consuls NEHAMA CONSUELO & DAVID HERMAN Thousands of persecuted Jews were saved by a small group of courageous diplomats and officials during the Holocaust era. The remarkable stories of these heroes who risked their jobs, reputations and safety, is both tragic and inspiring. 36 The Largest Torah Gathering in Modern Jewish History I n less than four months, Met Life Stadium is going to be electrified with excitement as never before. Only this time, it won’t be the Super Bowl champion New York Giants generating the excitement, but rather “giants” of another sort 50 A Safer Way to Surf DANIEL ROSEHILL Notwithstanding all its fantastic services, the internet has the potential to become a devastating spiritual abyss for adults and children alike. An introductory guide to web filtering solutions offers clues on how families can benefit from the internet’s bounty while avoiding its bite. 6 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE